Charlton: Duncan Edwards was hard as nails

Memorial: Bobby Charlton pays his respects at the memorial stone for the victims of the Munich air crash

By former Manchester United forward, Bobby Charlton

12:01AM GMT 03 Feb 2008

"Duncan Edwards has always been in my mind as the best player I ever played with or against. I knew him more than any of the others because we did National Service at the same time. For a year we lived together and travelled together.

"Physically, he was enormous. He was strong and had a fantastic football brain. His ability was complete - right foot, left foot, long passing, short passing. He did everything instinctively. Without question he would have played in the 1966 World Cup and been England captain.

"Today he would be priceless. There would have been all hell let loose if he'd been allowed to leave Manchester United. He was just sensational. And he was such a lovely person, a rough diamond, always happy, always wanting to talk about football. Even after the crash he showed he was as hard as nails. He fought his injuries for a fortnight before he actually died. No one else would have fought for so long."

"If people come to me and want to hear about Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor, I'm happy to do it. It's right that the players of that great team - and that's not understating the case - should be recognised 50 years later. I don't have to make things up. I know exactly how good they were.

"There's always somebody who says something that triggers Munich in your mind. It was the enormity of it. It was just so dreadful. Some of those sitting at the front of the plane moved to the back for the third take-off because they thought it would be safer. But it was those at the front, with seats behind them, who survived.

"The crash came just when the team was going into its best, most exciting stage. I remember watching our first home game in the European Cup, against Anderlecht, and we beat them 10-0. It was sensational.

"We pioneered English football in Europe. Players and fans were excited because we were up against players we'd never seen. There was none of the TV coverage you have now. And you had to be champions to be in the European Cup. We had only one team in the competition, not four like now. It was a marvellous adventure.

"We'd played Real Madrid, the champions, the year before and learned a lot and I'm convinced we would have won the European Cup in 1958 because the players were so good. In fact, with players like Duncan Edwards and Roger Byrne it's quite possible England could have won the World Cup in Sweden that year.

"When we eventually won the European Cup in 1968 people were so pleased for Matt Busby because he considered the players we lost as his family. He felt responsible because he had cajoled the parents into allowing their sons to come and play for him. He was hurt by what happened at Munich more than anyone, so that night at Wembley was great for him.

"The Matt Busby and Jimmy Murphy philosophy was to go forward, never be afraid to express yourself and it's always been like that at United. Alex Ferguson's team embodies the same spirit and his players are well aware of the responsibility they've got in upholding the history of the club. They would all like to win the European Cup again this year."